Becoming the Best Music Teacher: How to Make

the Most of Your Undergraduate Experience

Craig Resta and Montana Hollis, Kent State University
Ohio Music Education Association Professional Conference
Cleveland OH • FRIDAY • 1st February 2019 @ 8:00 AM

CLINICIAN BIOGRAPHIES

Craig Resta (cresta@kent.edu) holds degrees from Baylor University, Indiana University, and University of Maryland.
His teaching and research interests include string pedagogy, music teacher education, masters and doctoral studies,
dissertation advising, and sociocultural issues in music teaching and learning. He has taught in K12 instrumental
classrooms in Texas, New Jersey, and California. Dr. Resta is presently Editor of the juried journal, Contributions to
Music Education, and Associate Professor of Music Education at Kent State University.

Montana Hollis (mhollis5@kent.edu) is a senior undergraduate music education major at Kent State University with a
concentration in instrumental music studies. A woodwind specialist, she serves as a marching coach and private
instructor for The Akron School for the Arts at Firestone High School, and Music for All Summer Camp. Montana is
currently Kent State OCMEA President, and Vice President of the KSU Delta Omicron Chapter. She regularly attends
the OMEA and Midwest Conferences, and will be student teaching in Northeast Ohio in the Spring of 2020.

SESSION OUTLINE

I. Introduction and Why You Should Think Professionally from the Start

• Most of the items on this list come as no surprise, many are suggestions you may have already been
told, whether at a freshman introductory meeting, or from seniors based on their own experiences.

• These are the steps that you should be taking NOW as freshman, sophomores, and juniors to be as
prepared as possible for entering the field (because 4 years is not enough).

• Giving adequate educational information and experiences to your future students is important to
personal and career success.

II. Get Involved in Every Possible Opportunity as a Music Student

• Educate your peers! Your experiences may be limited, the more we share the better off we all will be!

• Be in as many large and chamber ensembles as possible, even those you might not think you need.

• Music education professors who see you working hard and getting involved in your learning now, will
be more likely to recommend you for positions and write you glowing letters of recommendation.
III. Real World Experiences are Waiting for You

• Reach out to local schools to see if the directors need help; they will value your assistance.

• Market yourself as a private instructor, and assist with solo/ensemble and large group events.

• Teaching is a craft, the more hours and longer you do it, the better teacher you will become.

• Take advantage of summer opportunities from marching bands, shows choirs, camps, and so on.

• Prestigious summer camps include Music for All, Interlochen, Blue Lake, Brevard, and many others.

• Observe and interact with as many master teachers, conductors, and musicians as possible.

• Everything is an experience; even if you think a general music or choral or instrumental clinic is
outside your expertise, go anyway, because it will influence your teaching!

IV. Professional Development Happens Anytime and Anywhere

• Get all the professional development you can now while it is cheaper and you have more free time.

• Make sure to join NAfME/OCMEA to take advantage of their resources, at a significantly reduced rate.

• Attend every conference possible, and of all sorts, such as OMEA, ACDA, ASTA, Midwest, and so on.

• Go to your district meetings now, they are happy to have you there, and this is valuable networking.

• Your OCMEA chapter can be a wealth of knowledge; undergraduates should be involved with this
resource now as an introduction to the profession, a networking tool, and so much more.

V. Bringing it Full Circle with Conclusions and Questions

• It is up to YOU to take control of what you want out of your music and educational experience.

• Make the effort to reach out to current teachers, make connections and go after new opportunities.

• Everything you do now is for the benefit of your career, and more importantly, your future students.

• Putting it all together, audience questions, and more discussion of being a great music education student.